2,821 research outputs found
The utility of a digital simulation language for ecological modeling
Dynamic modeling of ecological phenomena has been greatly facilitated by the recent development of continuous system simulator programs. This paper illustrates the application of one of these programs, S/360 Continuous System Modeling Program (S/360 CSMP), to four systems of graduated complexity. The first is a two species system, with one feeding on the other, using differential equations with constant coefficients. The second and third systems involve two competing plant species in which the coefficients of the differential equations are varying with time. The final example considers the management of a postulated buffalo herd in which the dynamics of the herd population and composition by sex and age is combined with various strategies to control its size and to optimize buffalo production
Systematic uncertainties in the precise determination of the strangeness magnetic moment of the nucleon
Systematic uncertainties in the recent precise determination of the
strangeness magnetic moment of the nucleon are identified and quantified. In
summary, G_M^s = -0.046 \pm 0.019 \mu_N.Comment: Invited presentation at PAVI '04, International Workshop on Parity
Violation and Hadronic Structure, Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de
Cosmologie, Grenoble, France, June 8-11, 2004. 7 pages, 16 figure
Intact automatic avoidance of obstacles in patients with visual form agnosia
In everyday life our reaching behaviour has to be guided not only by the location and properties of the target object, but also by the presence of potential obstacles in the workspace. Recent evidence from neglect and optic ataxia patients has suggested that this automatic obstacle avoidance is mediated by the dorsal, rather than the ventral, stream of visual processing. We tested this idea in two studies involving patients with visual form agnosia resulting from bilateral ventral-stream damage. In the first study, we asked patient DF to reach out and pick up a target object in the presence of obstacles placed at varying distances to the left or right of the target. We found that both DF and controls shifted their trajectories away from the potential obstacles and adjusted their grip aperture in such a way as to minimize risk of collision. In a second study, we asked DF and a second patient, SB, to either reach between, or to bisect the space between, two cylinders presented at varying locations. We found that both patients adjusted their reach trajectories to account for shifts in cylinder location in the reaching task, despite showing significantly worse performance than control subjects when asked to make a bisection judgement. Taken together, these data indicate that automatic obstacle avoidance behaviour is spared in our patients with visual form agnosia. We attribute their ability to the functional intactness of the dorsal stream of visual processing, and argue that the ventral stream plays no important role in automatic obstacle avoidance
Novae Ejecta as Colliding Shells
Following on our initial absorption-line analysis of fifteen novae spectra we
present additional evidence for the existence of two distinct components of
novae ejecta having different origins. As argued in Paper I one component is
the rapidly expanding gas ejected from the outer layers of the white dwarf by
the outburst. The second component is pre-existing outer, more slowly expanding
circumbinary gas that represents ejecta from the secondary star or accretion
disk. We present measurements of the emission-line widths that show them to be
significantly narrower than the broad P Cygni profiles that immediately precede
them. The emission profiles of novae in the nebular phase are distinctly
rectangular, i.e., strongly suggestive of emission from a relatively thin,
roughly spherical shell. We thus interpret novae spectral evolution in terms of
the collision between the two components of ejecta, which converts the early
absorption spectrum to an emission-line spectrum within weeks of the outburst.
The narrow emission widths require the outer circumbinary gas to be much more
massive than the white dwarf ejecta, thereby slowing the latter's expansion
upon collision. The presence of a large reservoir of circumbinary gas at the
time of outburst is suggestive that novae outbursts may sometime be triggered
by collapse of gas onto the white dwarf, as occurs for dwarf novae, rather than
steady mass transfer through the inner Lagrangian point.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures; Revised manuscript; Accepted for publication in
Astrophysics & Space Scienc
On ordinal utility, cardinal utility, and random utility
Though the Random Utility Model (RUM) was conceived
entirely in terms of ordinal utility, the apparatus throughwhich it is widely practised exhibits properties of
cardinal utility. The adoption of cardinal utility as a
working operation of ordinal is perfectly valid, provided
interpretations drawn from that operation remain faithful
to ordinal utility. The paper considers whether the latterrequirement holds true for several measurements commonly
derived from RUM. In particular it is found that
measurements of consumer surplus change may depart from
ordinal utility, and exploit the cardinality inherent in
the practical apparatus.
Detection of abandoned mineshafts using towed-array capacitive resistivity and real-time kinematic GPS navigation
The UK has a long history of mining but it was not until 1875 that the accurate mapping of mine workings and the submission of abandonment plans became a legal requirement. Where mineshafts are indicated on plans, they may be mislocated due to poor or inaccurate surveying. Consequently, the redevelopment of derelict land in the built environment frequently encounters potential geohazards, such as old adits, bell pits and shafts. These mining relics pose a serious risk to health and safety.
This paper demonstrates how the combination of modem geophysical survey techniques with state-of-the-art satellite-based positioning may assist in the detection of such features. Recent advances in these fields offer the possibility of using towed-array resistivity instruments in conjunction with highly accurate (sub-decimetre) real-time kinematic global positioning systems (RTKGPS). Here we describe the use of multi-offset towed-array capacitive resistivity (CR) with GPS navigation for mapping resistivity over a known mineshaft in the historic mining area of Bonsall Leys in Derbyshire, UK
Field Measurements of Terrestrial and Martian Dust Devils
Surface-based measurements of terrestrial and martian dust devils/convective vortices provided from mobile and stationary platforms are discussed. Imaging of terrestrial dust devils has quantified their rotational and vertical wind speeds, translation speeds, dimensions, dust load, and frequency of occurrence. Imaging of martian dust devils has provided translation speeds and constraints on dimensions, but only limited constraints on vertical motion within a vortex. The longer mission durations on Mars afforded by long operating robotic landers and rovers have provided statistical quantification of vortex occurrence (time-of-sol, and recently seasonal) that has until recently not been a primary outcome of more temporally limited terrestrial dust devil measurement campaigns. Terrestrial measurement campaigns have included a more extensive range of measured vortex parameters (pressure, wind, morphology, etc.) than have martian opportunities, with electric field and direct measure of dust abundance not yet obtained on Mars. No martian robotic mission has yet provided contemporaneous high frequency wind and pressure measurements. Comparison of measured terrestrial and martian dust devil characteristics suggests that martian dust devils are larger and possess faster maximum rotational wind speeds, that the absolute magnitude of the pressure deficit within a terrestrial dust devil is an order of magnitude greater than a martian dust devil, and that the time-of-day variation in vortex frequency is similar. Recent terrestrial investigations have demonstrated the presence of diagnostic dust devil signals within seismic and infrasound measurements; an upcoming Mars robotic mission will obtain similar measurement types
Effects of old landfills on groundwater quality. Phase 2, investigation of the Thriplow landfill 1996–1997
Disused sand and gravel excavations overlying the major Chalk aquifer at Thriplow in Cambridgeshire have
been filled with domestic waste in two phases. One area (Phase 1) was filled between 1957–77 with little compaction
of the refuse and was left uncapped, while Phase 2 was deposited between 1981–87 and capped with
clay. Aerial photography and surface resistivity surveys indicate that the site geometry is complex, with several
phases of landfilling into excavations of differing depths. Drilling through the waste indicates that leachate production
and waste stabilisation proceed at different rates in capped and uncapped landfills. Analysis of leachate
obtained by centrifugation or squeezing appears to give more insight into the pollution potential than do leach
tests with distilled water. The Biological Methane Potential (BMP) of the waste appears to be related to the
quantity of decomposable material but the chemical oxygen demand (COD) values are distorted by the presence
of reduced metals. Too few boreholes have been drilled to define the leachate source in terms of its spatial distribution
and little is known of how its composition has changed with time. However, hydraulic conductivity measurements
on the landfill caps suggest that it is sufficiently permeable for all rainfall to potentially infiltrate the
waste.
Boreholes outside the landfill penetrate the Upper and Lower Chalk, and identify the Melbourn Rock and underlying
Plenus Marls at the junction of the two formations about 20 m below ground level (bgl). Surface resistivity
surveys using the BGS RESCAN system, confirm aerial photographs of the extent of the landfill and also
suggest that leachate has migrated beyond the base of the landfill. Evidence of leachate migration in pre-existing
screened boreholes completed above and below the Plenus Marls suggests that leachate is flowing above the
Plenus Marls. Hydraulic head measurements whilst drilling a borehole to the base of the lower Chalk approx. 70
m bgl revealed the potential for upward groundwater flow through the Plenus Marls. Thus, previously-drilled
boreholes penetrating the Plenus Marls are expected to recharge upwards into the shallow aquifer above the
Plenus Marls diluting any leachate in the upper aquifer and distorting the flow regime. Several of these boreholes
have subsequently been modified to stem the flow across the Plenus Marls.
One borehole down-gradient to the west of the site revealed a large thickness of drift composed of both sand and
clay rich material. This suggests the existence of a buried channel, the hydrogeological significance of which has
yet to be assessed.
Groundwater chemistry appears to be influenced by three major factors. (a) the landfill leachate (b) the composition
of shallow groundwater in the top 10 m of the Chalk, and (c) the composition of water from the Lower
Chalk. Limited groundwater monitoring data appear to display a cyclic variation in chloride concentration. The
origin for this is not clear but it may correlate with cyclic variations in groundwater levels when the water table
rises into the waste. Cyclic flushing of the landfill may release leachate into the aquifer giving rise to pulses of
chloride. Alternatively changes in chloride may arise by the changing direction of groundwater flow which as yet
has not been assessed.
A conceptual hydrogeological model in which flow is limited to above the Plenus Marls has been used to
develop a more appropriate groundwater flow and solute transport model. However, the model lacks data on
aquifer properties, on contaminant inputs concentrations, fluxes and spatial variations, and there is a paucity of
monitoring data for calibration. Nonetheless preliminary transport modelling using an equivalent porous medium
approach shows that an effective porosity of about 5% best fits the regional data. Since this is much less than the
total porosity of about 40% for the Chalk, it would appear that only part of the Chalk is available for flow but
that matrix diffusion could play an important role in leachate attenuation. Discrete fracture modelling using the
FRACTRAN code has allowed some scoping to be made of the hydraulic properties of the aquifer by comparison
with chloride hydrographs, but these again need to be better conditioned by in-situ measurement of fracture
distributions and transmissivities.
A number of additional activities are required to improve the understanding of flow and contaminant transport at
the site. These include better spatial definition of the waste distribution, improved data on the hydraulic properties
of the Chalk aquifer, and the use of automatic monitoring to record temporal changes in groundwater chemistry
and groundwater levels
Flamingo Vol. II N 1
Judge. Untitled. Prose. 1.
Siren. Untitled. Prose. 1.
Purple Cow. Untitled. Prose. 1.
Borington, R.D. Deacon Frowzy\u27s Son . Prose. 5.
G.W.B. Cynic . Poem. 8.
Anonymous. Les Hommes Mysterieux . Poem. 8.
K.K.H. October . Poem. 8.
G.W.B. Petition . Poem. 8.
Society Editor. A Line-A-Day Book For Co-Eds . Prose. 9.
Schmitz, Edward. Untitled.Picture. 9.
W.D.P. Untitled. Prose.9.
Anonymous. SSS . Prose. 9.
Anonymous. Untitled. Prose. 9.
Anonymous. Untitled. prose. 10.
Potter, W.M. Crooning of a Japanese Sandman .
Anonymous. Geographical Influence . Prose. 10.
George. Vest Pocket News . Prose. 11.
Anonymous. Deed\u27s Field-The First Kick-Off . Picture. 12.
Anonymous. Denison\u27s Hall of Fame: Kirtley F. Mather .
Anonymous. Untitled. Prose. 14.
Keeler, Clyde. Once Upon A Time . Cartoon. 16.
Anonymous. Untitled. Prose. 18.
Anonymous. College Song B.C. 56 . Prose. 18.
Anonymous. One Student Classification . Poem. 18.
Anonymous. Yea Neptune! . Poem. 18.
Anonymous. Untitled. Poem. 19.
Punch Bowl. Strongly Prejudiced . Prose. 19.
Jester. Follow Copy . Prose. 19.
Lord Jeff. Untitled. Prose. 19.
Anonymous. Untitled. Prose. 20.
Anonymous. Page Mr. Edison . Prose. 20.
Speicher. Untitled. Picture. 20.
Williams, Grace. Untitled. Picture. 20.
Anonymous. Untitled. Prose. 21.
Suds. Untitled. Picture. 21.
Exchange. Untitled. Prose. 21.
Wag Jag. Untitled. Prose. 21.
Punch Bowl. Untitled. Prose. 22.
Purple Cow. Untitled. Prose. 22.
Purple Cow. In The Trenches Prose. 22.
Tar Baby. Untitled. Prose. 22.
Exchange. Untitled. Prose. 22.
Jester. Untitled. Prose. 22.
Exchange. Untitled. Prose. 25.
Siren. Untitled. Prose. 25.
Widow. Untitled. Prose. 25.
Anonymous. Untitled. Prose. 25.
Voo-Doo. Untitled. Prose. 25.
Froth. Untitled. Prose. 25.
Judge. It\u27s A Long Turn . Prose. 25.
Anonymous. Untitled. Prose. 25.
Voo-Doo. Strange . Prose. 28.
Sun Dial. Untitled. Prose. 28.
Jester. Straight Dope Prose. 28.
Banter. Untitled. Prose. 28.
Jester. Untitled. Prose. 28.
Forth. Additions Prose. 30.
Purple Cow. Untitled. Prose. 30.
Puppet. A Mouthful . Prose. 30.
Showme. Untitled. Prose. 30.
Exchange. Untitled. Prose. 30.
Scalper. Talking to \u27Em . Prose. 30.
Dirge. Untitled. prose. 30.
Exchange. Untitled. Prose. 31.
Widow. Untitled. Prose. 31.
Jester. In The French Class . Prose. 31.
Ubersax, Delmar. Untitled. Picture. 3
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